Judge bars charity in Shrewsbury and Uxbridge

Friday

Aug 15, 2014 at 10:30 AM

BOSTON — A Connecticut-based charity that solicited donations in Shrewsbury and Uxbridge has been barred from collecting money in Massachusetts following a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's Office last week.

The lawsuit alleges the charity, Focus on Veterans, Inc., used deceptive practices while soliciting here.

On Aug. 6, the AG's Office filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court against the Connecticut-based charity and alleged Focus on Veterans violated the state charitable solicitation laws by soliciting donations outside Massachusetts businesses without a valid Certificate for Solicitation from the AG's Office. The complaint also alleged the organization used unfair and deceptive charitable solicitation practices during these solicitation campaigns.

In a hearing Thursday, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke entered a temporary restraining order against Focus on Veterans prohibiting them from soliciting funds in Massachusetts until a preliminary injunction hearing is held. That hearing has been set for Sept. 16.

The AG alleges the organization failed to register and submit annual financial filings required by statute with the AG's Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division.

The AG's Office sent letters to Focus on Veterans on three occasions in April and June notifying them that they could not solicit funds. Despite the warnings, the complaint alleges that Focus on Veterans continued to actively solicit funds here.

It was also alleged the charity misled potential donors by falsely representing that their donations would be used to assist Massachusetts veterans.

The organization solicited in front of Massachusetts businesses in various communities including Shrewsbury, Uxbridge, Hyde Park and Plainville.